Across the area

Three women were injured Wednesday morning in a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 20 in Columbia County that caused both vehicles to flip, authorities said.

Sarah Rosell, 23, of Evans, was in serious condition at Medical College of Georgia Hospital, hospital spokeswoman Danielle Wong said. Sally Stinetto, 58, and her daughter, Rebecca Stinetto, 29, of Macon, were both listed in fair condition at MCG.

The accident occurred at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday on I-20 eastbound when Sally Stinetto slowed her Isuzu Amigo, according to Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris. Ms. Rosell attempted to maneuver around the slower vehicle in her Jeep Cherokee, but she hit the Isuzu. Both drivers lost control and their vehicles rolled several times.

One of the vehicles ended up in the median and the other on the interstate shoulder, Capt. Morris said. Charges are pending, he said.

Augusta woman faces charges in assault

An Augusta woman was charged Wednesday with slashing a younger woman in the face with a broken bottle after an argument over a boyfriend, police said.

Ronique Patrice Jeter, 22, was charged with felony aggravated assault in connection with Tuesday night's stabbing of 17-year-old Tina Kelly, who suffered deep cuts to her neck, cheek and eye, according to Sgt. Calvin Chew of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

The victim told police she was arguing with Ms. Jeter at about 6 p.m. Tuesday at an Eighth Avenue home when Ms. Jeter used the glass bottle to cut her face. Witnesses called police and the assault stopped when a deputy arrived, a report states. Ms. Jeter ran from the home but was taken into custody on Grand Boulevard.

Tina was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where she was listed in good condition.

Slab repair work will close interstate lanes

Slab repair work on a portion of Interstate 20 in Columbia County began Wednesday and will continue throughout this week with lane closures.

The work, which involves a quarter-mile area near the weigh station and a 1,000-foot area near Georgia Highway 47, was the result of drainage problems in the area, said Vonda Everett, of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Mrs. Everett said the drainage problems occurred after a recent major resurfacing project was completed on I-20 in Columbia County.

As a result, the outside westbound lane at mile posts 184 and 188 will be closed around the clock until Sunday. The inside westbound lane will then be closed 24 hours a day from Monday through Thursday.

The work is being conducted at the cost of the contractor, Gilbert Southern.

Police investigate theft from business

Richmond County authorities on Wednesday were investigating the theft of nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from a business on Greene Street.

Darlene McCann of Finishing Touch said someone entered the establishment between 2 p.m. Monday and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a sheriff's office report.

The stolen items included three televisions, a VCR and four paintings, the report states.

There was no sign of forced entry, and Ms. McCann said an employee had lost the keys to the building on Monday, the report states.

SRS security company gets bonus for efforts

AIKEN -The company that provides security for the Savannah River Site is getting 98 percent of the available bonus for its work at the nuclear weapons complex.

Wackenhut Services Inc. will receive a bonus of $1.6 million for its effort, said Jeffery Allison, the U.S. Energy Department's manager for the Savannah River Operations Office.

In a May 23 letter to Wackenhut general manager Lawrence Brede Jr., Mr. Allison said the security force continued to demonstrate high performance in protective force operations.

Wackenhut was evaluated by the federal department's Headquarters Office of Independent Oversight and Performance Assurance in the areas that include safety, security, technical capability and performance.

The company won high praise for its protection of critical production and storage facilities and its security employees' training activities.

Police investigate home invasion report

Police were investigating a home invasion at a residence on Hebron Court in Augusta early Wednesday morning.

Randy E. Cawley, 61, said he answered a knock at his door at 2:30 a.m. and two men forced their way into his home, according to a sheriff's office report. The men took Mr. Cawley into the bedroom, tied him up and placed a shirt over his head, the report states.

The robbers stole the victim's wallet, but Mr. Cawley could not tell what they did after that, the report states. The victim freed himself a half-hour later and called police, the report states.

Fort Gordon will hold day camp for students

Fort Gordon will play host to about 175 students from local Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs at Richmond and Columbia counties Tuesday through June 6, according to the public affairs office at the installation.

JROTC students from the Academy of Richmond County and Hephzibah, Laney, Evans, Harlem and Lakeside high schools will attend Camp Semaphore, a day camp where they will learn survival and leadership skills, a news release states.

For more information, call 791-6305.

Democratic Party will sponsor family dinner

A family dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at The Farmington Club House, Hereford Farm Road, Evans.

The dinner is sponsored by the Columbia County Democratic Party. Stacy Godfrey will be the guest speaker.

For more information, call Terry Holly at 868-0959.

Official's son is indicted

The son of a Columbia County School Board member was indicted Wednesday on two counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated child molestation.

A Columbia County grand jury indicted Richard Chad Muns, who recently turned 18, for the crimes, according to the clerk's office of the Columbia County Superior Court.

Mr. Muns is the son of Columbia County Board of Education member and Columbia County Republican Party Chairman Lee Muns.

"I can't make a comment at this time," Lee Muns said Wednesday night.

The acts occurred between Feb. 28 and April 1, according to court documents.

"From what I understand, it involved a 14-year-old. He's like 17 or 18," said Columbia County Sheriff's Office Capt. Steve Morris. "I think it was involving consensual sex."